Shock absorber



J. M. HALL SHOCK BSORBER Sept. 30, 1930.

originql Filed April 17.' 1922 s sheets-sheet 1 sept. .30, 1930. l j- M, HALL I 1,776,973

SHOCK ABSORBER `Original Filed April 17, 1922. `3 SheetS-Sheet 2 J. M. HALL s'HocK ABSORBER Sept. 30, 1930.

Original Filed April 17 1922 3' Sheets-Sheet JOSEPH M. HALF, HAMILTON, ODl'Trhlt, CANADA, SSIIGNOR TO HALL DRFT Gi-MR GRTE@Itit'llllflN,A @E BUFFALD, NEW YORK; A CORPORATION OF NEW 'YQORE` snoer nascenteA .application ledrltpril 17, 1922, Serialiilo. 554,22i8. Renewed October $34, 19%. y

This invention relates to' a shock absorber which is more particularly .designed for use on railway cars and the samezmay also beused for other pur Voses in t which a cushioning eect is required etween two relatively movable'parts, and more par# ticularly to a 'shock absorber in which .a pluf rality ofsets of alternatingor intercalated plates are employed which slide frictionall lengthwise relatively to each other and whic are subjected to increasing lateralfpressure during the butting andpullingactions of the` draft gear of the railwa car and reduced lateral pressure during t e relaxationv of thel5 draft' gear.

jf llt; is the object of this inventionto provide siriipmle-,` compact and edective means for causingthe friction plates to be pressed together laterallypromptly and oer al greater frictional resisting edect to the load, and f also to'secure afmore prompt and free reblease. of the frictional contact between the severalplates duringrelaxation of the draft gear and therebyobtain'a better compression or closing up of the-shock absorber and a more free and prompt release of the same. t ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal lsection showing this improved shock absorber organize-d for use as a friction shock absorbing draft gear for railway cars, the parts being represented in the position which they occupy when the gear is released. Figure 2 is a similar view showingthe draft gear under a load and compressed to its maximum extent. Figures 3, a and 5v are fragmentary longitudinal sections, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines Tin Figs. 1" and'2, respectively. F igures 6 and 7 are vertical ttl cross sections', taken on oorrespondinglynumbered lines in Fig. 1. -'Figure 8 is` a perspective view of one vof the housings, cages or caps 'form-ing part of the shock absorbing gear.4 Figure 9 is a similar view of t5 one of the friction plates thereof.` Figure 10 is a similar View of' one ofthe wedge' plates of the same. Figure 11 is a similar view of one of the spring seats of this gear.- Fig'ure '12 is a perspective view of one of the wedges or wedge blocks forming part of this gear.

ike, although the Figure 13 is a similar View of one of the releasing bars of the same.

' Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout thekseveral views.

10, 10 represent the longitudinal central 55' sills ofa car frame, ,11 the front draft lugs or stops arranged on the front parts of the opposing sides of these sills, l2 the rear draft vlugs or stops and 13 the transverse carrying bar or iron connecting the lower sides of these sills ata point between the front and rear draft lu s thereof and adaptedto support the. shoe absorbing gear on its underside. f The shock-absorbing draft ear containing my invention is arranged' between the front 'et 'and rear draft lugs and the adjacent arts of A the central sills of the car' frame an is embraced by a yoke having upper and lower longitudinal bars la which are spaced apart, a rear cross head 15A connecting the rear ends of the side bars 14 and two coupling arms 16 projecting forwardly from thefront ends'of these side bars. The rear end of the shank i 17 of the car coupler is arranged between the arms 16 of the yoke and connected therewith by means of `a key 18, or any other suitable means.

lllieshoclr absorbing gear which embodies my improvements .and co-operates with the above-mentioned parts of the draft gear of the car, in its -preferred form is constructed as follows: i

Arranged withinrthe front and rear arts of the slot formed within the yoke are ront.l

4and rear housings, cages or caps which have fc5'.

their open or concave sides facing each other, each of these housings being preferably rectangular in cross `section, and the front housing being provided on its horizontally opposite sides with two fiat longitudinal'parallel friction walls 19, 19 and a front trans-` verse :follower 2O connecting the front ends of these walls, and the rear housing 4being provided on horizontally opposite sides with two longitudinal parallel fiat friction Walls 21 and a rear transverse follower' 22 Connecting the rear ends of the side walls 21, the

`walls and follower of each housing being `preferably formed integrally, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.4

l/Vithin horizontally opposite sides of the space sets of intercalatedfriction plates 23 which are adapted to frictionally engage each other lwith a longitudinally sliding'movement rela'- tively to each other and thus serve as a means e for absorbing or taking up part of the shock, work or load, during bufling and pulling i strains when coupling or pushing the car or when pulling the same. The plates of one set alternate with those of another set on the same side of the gear so that these plates overlap one another and engage their flat surfaces in a direction parallel and lengthwise of the direction of movement of the coupler and associated parts. `he front ends of the front sets of both pairs of friction plates are adapted to be engaged by the follower and trainsverse front wall of the front housing, and the rear ends of the rear sets of both pairs 4of friction plates are adapted to be engaged by the rear follower or transverse wall of the rear housing. Each of these friction plates is provided in its opposite longitudinal edges near the outer end of the respective plate with notches 24, thereby forming inwardly facing shoulders 25 on these plates adjacent to the outer end thereof, while the inner part of each of these plates is correspondingly reduced in width equal to the distance between the notches 24, as shown at 26 in Figs. 3`

and 9.

The inner side of the innermost friction plates of both pairs are engaged adjacent to the front follower 20 by means of two front wedge plates or shoes 27 and. adjacent to the rear follower 22 by a pair of rear wedge plates .or shoes 28n Each of these wedge plates is provided on its inner side with an outwardly facing incline 29 and with an inwardly facing incline 30, the outwa'rdly facing incline being arranged at a coinparatively sharp or acute angle and the inner incline 3Q being arranged at a comparatively abrupt or obtuse angle, as best shown in Fig. 2.

3l, 32 represent front and rear wedges or wedge blocks which are adapted to engage their outer sides with the inner sides of the front and rear followers 20, 22, respectively, and which are provided on their inner ends with the inwardly facing inclinesy 33 arranged at the same angle as the outer inclines 29 of the wedge plates and adapted to engage the same. 34 is a comparatively light releasing spring preferably of'helical form, arranged lengthwise in the center of the gear and engaging its opposite ends with the opposingr sides of the front and rear wedges ai, 32.

35, 38 represent front and rear spring seats br washers, the front spring seat being provided `on its outer side adjacent to its margin with outwardly facing inclines 36 which engage with and are arranged at the same angle as the .inwardly facing inclines 30. of the of these housings are arranged two front wedge plates 27, while the rear spring seat 38 is provided with similar outwardly facing inclines 36 which engage with the inwardlyfacing inclines 30 of the rear wedge plates, as Yshown in Figs. l and 2.

37 represents a comparatively heavy' main or restoring spring, preferably of helical form, surrounding the releasing spring and bearing at its opposite ends against the opposing inner sides of the spring seats 35, 38.

39, 39 and 40, 40 represent front and rear pairs of releasing bars, the members of the front pair being arranged transversely on opposite sides of the frontwedge and having their ends projecting in the-notches 24 in the longitudinal edges of the front sets of friction plates and the members of the rear pair of releasing bars being arranged on opposite sides of the rear wedge and having their ends projecting into the notches 24 in the longitudinal edges of the rear sets of friction plates.

4l, 4l` represent ders arranged on opposite sides of each spring seat and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to bear at times against the central parts of lthe inner edges of the releasing bars at the corresponding end of the absorbing mechanism. Ono posite sides of each shifting lug 41 the ad]acent wedge is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting shifting lugs or shoulders 42, 42, which are adapted to bear at times against the inner edge of the adjacent releasing bar.

For convenience in holding the elements of the shock absorbing mechanism in their proper relative position ,during transportation and for convenience in mounting the same in a draft gear of a car or removing the same there-from, the front and rear housings are temporarily connected by a tie bolt 43 which is adapted to extend through the releasing spring and through corresponding openings in the followers 20, 22, which tie bolt when in use has its head and nut seated in recesses 44 in the outer sides of the followers, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of this shock absorbing mechanism is as follows: When the shock absorber is fully released,- relaxed or open, as shown in Figs. l and 5,

the front and rear housings bear with their followers against the front and rear stops and against the front arms 16 and rear cross head 15 of the yoke,the front and rear wedges are spread farthest apartby the releasing spring, the spring seats are pushed outwardly `to their extreme positions by the main or restoring spring together with the wedge plates wlncn bear with their outwardly fac- .ing inclines vagainst the inclines of the wedges, the releasin barsA are moved into their outermost positions either by the shifting lugs of the sprin seats or the wedges, or by the lugs of both of; these members, and the two shifting lugs or shoull armere.

front-and rear sets of friction plates of both pairs are pulled apartthe maximum extent by engagement' of thereleasing bars with the shoulders 25 of the friction plates, which latter however at this time,"are separated at their outer ends 4from the followers 20, 21, thereby relieving the lateral outward pressure against the wedge plates and the`friction plates against each other.

Upon now mbving one of the housings toward the other, as for instance, the front housing toward the rear housing, to the po sition shown in Figs. 2 and 4, which would be the case during a maximum buifi'ng action,

. the first effect would be an inward movement of the front housing and front wedge independently of the front sets of frictionl plates, thereby causing both front and rear wedges, by engagement of their inclines with the outer inclines 29`of the wedge plates to press the same laterally outward, whereby the several sets of intercalated-friction plates are caused to engage each other withA increased frictional Contact. The lateral outward move* 'ment of'the wedge plates at this time is fation plates, the followers of.the front and rear housings both en a'gie with the 'outer ends of the front and rear sets of friction platesand cause the frdnt sets of friction plates to move backwardl-y relatively to the rear sets of theseplates,which movement 1s not only increasingly resisted by the main or restoring and releasing springs, but also increasingly resisted by the frictional contact between the relatively stationary rear and the longitudinally movable vfront sets of friction plates by reason of the fact that the increasing resistance of the main or restoring spring causes an increasing lateral wedge action of the wedges against the wedge plates and consequently an increasingfri@ tional grip of the friction plates upon each other and a proportionate increase in the cushioning eifect upon the load from which the. hurling shock originates. During this frictipnal sliding engagement of the front s'dets of the friction plates with the rear sets of friction plates, the latter will be moved slightly backward until their outer ends abut against the rear follower 22, thus carrying the shoulders 25 of the rear frictionplates ltheir foremost position.

away from the rear releasing bar, as shown at the left of Fig. 2. rllhe shoulders 25 of the front set of friction plates however remain in contact with the outer edge vof the front releasing bars 39 andfimove the latter inward-- ly to the same/extent. During this closing up or compression of the shock absorber4 the shifting lugs 42 lof the wedge Will move slightly awayfrom the inner edge of. the front releasingbars and the rear releasing bars 40 will be carried Arearwardly slightly by reason of the slight rearward movement of the rear wedge plates and spring seat during which time the rear wedge plates push the rear."A releasing bars rearwardly and away from the shifting lugs 42 of the rear wedge,

as shown at the left of Fig. 2.

Upon now removing the load which oper- .ated to compress the shock absorber the first effect is that'the releasing spring pushes the front'wedge forwardly and reduces the wedge action of the same a ainst the front pair of wedge plates, where y. the latter are per mitted to move both forwardly and inwardly as the main or restoring spring expands until the lugs 41, 41 come in Contactl with the ref lease bars 39, 39. causes the release bars 39 to' engage with the friction plates at the shoulders 25. Further expansion of the main or restoring spring necessarily must move the friction plates back to position, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the frictional contact between the latter'is released quickly and fully and the shock absorber is permitted to expand or open promptly and effectively.

lt is possible to release the wedges from the wedge plates to accomplish the above-mentioned result due to the release spring being able'to move the housing 19 and wedge 31 outwardly independently of other draft gear parts. AThis outward lmovement allows the pressure of contact toberemoved between the wedges and wedge plates and the draft' gear to open or relax.

As the front wedge and wedge plates move vforwardly during release of the shock absorber, either the shiftinglugs 41 of the front v sprinfr seat, or the shifting lugs 42 of the front'wedge, or-the lugs of both of these members engage with the inner edge of the front releasing bars and push the latter into During this forward movement of the -front releasing bars, the same engage with the shoulders 25 of the front sets of friction plates and carry the latter to their foremost position. When the shock absorber is fully expanded the front follower 20 has been moved awav from the releasing I are again in engagement with the outer edge of the rear releasing bars'40.

When the shock absorber is subjected to a pulling load the action is reversed, that is to say, the front follower and wedge are stationary while the rear follower, wedge, Wedge plates and parts associated therewith move and function inthe same manner as that previously described ywith reference to the front wedge, wedge plates, spring seat andreleasing bars during a buifing and releasing operation.

From the foregoing it will be not-iced that during compression of the shocli absorber the irs ride loosely or iioat without performingpany ork and duringrelease' of the shock absorber the wedge plates ride loosely or iioat without perfor-mi ig any work. It will also be noted that in this construction the spring seats operate to transmitthe pressure of the main or restoring spring directly to the releasing bars for drawing `the friction plates apart lengthwise and that the wedge plates orshoes take no part in this function inasmuch Aas the latter at no time operatively engage the releasing bars.

The advantage in this shock absorber is i that the wedge plates or shoes slide laterally outward more easily and furnish a better compression when applying the shock absorber and also a more prompt and free release when relaxing the load on the saine, and

the same also provides a much greater shock absorbing capacity within the limits of space now available and it accomplishes this purpose by means which act promptly both during closing, compression or application and during opening, releasing or relaxation, which will stand the severest usagev and not give way under the hardest shocks, and which y can be produced economically and are not liable to get ont of order.

It will be noted that each of the wedge blocks 31, 32,3moves back and forth in unison with its respective follower or head 20, 22, and, therefore, in etl'ect each of these wedge blocks or wedges forms a, part of its.c mipan `ion main follower as though the same were formed integrally thereof. The same effect would be produced if each wedge block were cast in onepiece with the follower against which it bears, but for manufacturing convenience and economy tliesame are preferably made separate.

I claim as my invention 1. A shock absorber comprisiiig a plurality of sets of intercalated longitudinal friction plates which are adapted to move lengthwise relatively to` each other, a housing enclosing' said friction plates and having a side wall engaged by the outermost friction plate and a follower adapted, during its inward movement, to engage the outer ends of the friction plates of one set` a wedge plate engaging with the innermost of said friction plates and having an inwardly facing incline and an .outwardly facing incline, a releasing bar .clined face adapted to engage with the outwardly facing incline ofsaid wedge plate, a spring seat having an outwardly facing incline engaging the inwardly facing incline `of said wedge plate, amain or restoring spring engaging withsaid spring seat, and a releasing spring engaging with said wedge.

2. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of sets of intercalated longitudinal friction plates which are adapted to move lengthwise relatively to each other, a housing enclosing said friction plates and having aside wall engaged by the outermcstifriction `plate and a follower adapted during its inward movementto engage the outer ends of the friction plates of one set, a wedge plate engaging with the innermost of said friction plates and having an inwardly facing incline and an outwardly facing incline, a releasing bar adapt- -ed duringits outward movement to engage dinally movable wedge having an inclined face adapted to engagewith the outwardly facing incline of said wedge plate, a spring seat having an outwardly facing incline engaging the inwardly facing incline of said wedge plate', a main or restoring spring engaging with said spring seat, and a releasing spring engaging withsaid wedge, the angle of the incline on said wedge and the outwardly facing incline of said wedge plate being comparatively acute or sharp and the angle ofthe incline on said spring seat and the inwardly facing incline on saidwedge plate being relatively obtuse or blunt.

3. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of sets of intercalated longitudinal friction plates which are adapted to nieve lengthwise relatively to each other, a. housing enclosing said friction plates and having a side wall engaged by the outermost friction plate and a follower adapted dur ing its inward movement to engage the outer ends of the friction plates of one set, a wedge plate engaging with the innermost of said friction plates and having an inwardly facing incline and `an outwardly facing inoline, a releasing bar adapted during its outward movement to engage operatively with the set of friction plates which are engaged by said follower during the inward movement of the latter, a longitudinally movable wedge having an inclined face adapted to engage with the outwardly facing incline of said wedge plate, a spring seat having an outwardly facing incline engaging the in wardly facing incline of said wedgeplate, a main or restoring spring engaging with said spring seat, and a releasing spring en# gaging with said wedge, the angle of the a, incline on said wedge and the outwardly facing incline of 'said wedge plate being comparatively acute or sharp and the angle ofthe incline on ysaid spring sea-t and the inwardly facing incline on said Wedge plate being rela- M, tively obtuse or blunt', and said spring seat .being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage withsaid -releasing bar during the outward movement of said spring seat.

4. A shock absorber comprlsing a pluralw ity of sets of intercalated longitudinal friction plates l which are adapted to move lengthwise relatively to each other, ahous'f..

ing enclosing Ysaid friction plates and having a side wall-'engaged by the outermost 2@ friction platea'nd a follower adapted dur- `ingits inward movement to engage the outer ends of the friction plates of one set,` a wedge plate engaging with the innermost of said friction plates and having an inwardly fac- .2g 2 ing incline and an outwardly facing incline,

'-a releasingbar adapted -during its outwardmovementxto-v engage operativelywith the set of friction plates which are engaged by said follower during the inward movement lofthe latter, a longitudinally lmovable-wedge having an inclined face adapted to engage with the outwardly facing incline of said wedge plate,.a`spring seat having an outwardly facing incline engaging the inwardly facing incline of said wedge plate, amain or restoring spring engaging; with said spring seat, and a releasing spring engaging @with said wedge, the angle of the incline on said wedge and the outwardly facing incline s in of said wedge plate being comparatively acute orsharp and the angle ofthe incline I on said spring seat and the inwardly facing incline on said wed e plate being relatively obtuse or blunt, sai springfseat being pro- .15 videdwith a shoulder adapted to engage with said releasing bar during the outward movement of said spring seat, and said wedge being provided with a shoulder adapted to, engage said releasing' bar during the outward movement of said wedge.

5. A shock absorber comprising a plural'-A ity of sets. of intercalated longitudinal friction plates which are adapted to move lengthwise relatively to each other, a hous.

.an ing enclosing. said friction plates and having a side wall enga ed by the outermost friction plate and a followerxadapted during itsinward movement to engage the outer v ends of thefriction plates of one set, a wedge plate engaging with the inner most of said friction plates and having an outwardly facing incline, a releasing bar adapted during i its outward movement to engage the friction plates which are moved inwardly by said folif lower, a wedg having an inchne engaging the incline-of said wedge plate, a spring seat engagin said wedge plate and having an outwar y facing shoulder adapted to engage said releasing bar 'during its outward movement, a releasing spring'engaging said .m

'vedge, and' a. main or'restoring spring ention`plates and having an outwardly facing 30 .incline,a wedge having an inwardly facing incline engaging said incline of the wedge plate, a releasing bar, a sprlng seat engag '-nig said wedge plate,fa releasing spring engaging said wedge, and a main or restoring g5V spring engaging said, spring seat, said releas- -ing -bar being 'moved idly inwardly by en` gagement therewith of the friction plates which are actuated by saidfollower, and said Wedge plate being moved idly outwardly by- 00 engagement therewith of the spring seat which is actuated bysaid main or restoring spring.

7 A shock absorber comprising front and rear follower means movable toward and '95 from 'one another; a plurality of setsof intercalated friction plateslarranged between said follower means and adapted to be moved longitudinally inwardly relatively to one another by motion derived from said follower means; means for pressing'said friction plates of the respective 'sets together transversely including pressure shoes bearing against one side of said sets of 4plates at opposite ends thereofv and adapted to be shifted by the inward movement of said follower means; .pressure resisting means supporting said -sets of friction plates in oppo-" s ition` tosaid pressu-re shoes; spring seats v'bearing longitudinally outward against said .110

pressure shoes, a restoring spring resistance 1n te'rposed between said-spring seats; and means for transmitting motion directly from 'saidspring seats tol said friction plates for p restoring the latter'to normal position after '115 compression of the mechanism.

8. shock absorber comprising front and rear followers movable toward and from one another; a plurality of intercalated friction resisting means supporting said sets of friction plates in opposition Vto said pressure I?) shoes; springv seats bearing longitudinally outward against said pressure shoes, a -rcstoring spring resistance interposed between said `spring seats; 'means for transmitting motion directly from said spring seats to said friction plates for restoring the latter to normal position after compression of the mechanism; and a releasing spring resistance interposed between said followers. v

9. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of sets of intercalated friction plates adapted to move lengthwise relatively to one another; followers arranged at opposite ends of said plates and adapt-ed to move relatively to each other; transverse pressure creating means arranged at opposite ends of the sets of plates and coacting with said followers and plates for pressing said plates of the respective sets together crosswisc upon relative approach of said followers; transverse pressure resisting means supporting said plates in opposition to the transverse pressure creating means; a restoring spring resistance opposing relative approach of the transverse pressure creating means at opposite ends of the sets of plates; a releasing spring resisti ance opposing relative approach of said followers, said followers being capable of initial inward longitudinal movement while the plates are at rest-and also capable of moving with said plates during the remainder of the inward movement of the followers and said followers eifecting their final outward longitudinal movement while said plates'are at rest and thereby aiding release ofthe mechanism; and means moving said plates longitudinally outward after compression by motion derived from said restoring spring resistance by transmitting pressure from the latter past said transverse pressure creating means to said plates and thereby allowing the transverse pressure,`

creating means to iioat during release, said means for moving the friction plates longitudinally outward including elements which form part of the transverse pressure creating means. f

10. A shock absorber comprising two sets of intercalated friction members, two follower means movable lengthwise inwardly and outwardly relatively to one another and each spaced from one of said sets of friction members in the released condition of the absorber andto effect the Ainitial part of its inward stroke while the corresponding set of friction members is'at rest and each follower means adapted to engage the respec-I tive set of friction members and cause the respective follower means and friction members to move longitudinally inward together during the remainder of said inward stroke, transverse wedge pressure creating means interposed between each of said follower means and the adjacent endsof said friction members and having co-operating wedge surfaces for causing the friction members of the respective sets to be pressed ltogether transversely upon moving one4 of said follower means longitudinally inward relative to the other follower means, transverse pressure rev sisting m'eans for supporting said friction members of the respective sets in opposition i to said transverse pressure creating means. a spring resistance means which is increasingly loaded during compression of the mechanism, and return means which operates to move one of said sets of friction members longitudinally.outward fromthe other set of friction members upon relaxation of the mechanism by carrying the reaction of said spring resistancev past said transverse wedge pressure creating means to the respectives/friction members, said return means including elements which form part of the transverse pressure creating means.

ll. A shock absorber comprising two sets of intercalaied friction members, two follower means movable lengthwise inwardly and outwardly relatively to one another and each spaced from one of said sets of friction members in the released condition of the absorber and to effect the initial part of its inward' stroke while the corresponding set of friction members is at rest and each follower -means adapted to engage thev respective set of friction members and compel the respective follower means and friction members to move :,'ngitudinally inward together during the remainder of said inward stroke, transverse wedge pressure creating means including shoes engaging one side of thefriction n'iembers at opposite ends thereof and adapted to be moved longitudinallyinwardly rela tively to one another by said follower means, transverse pressure resisting means engaging the other side of said friction members,

'and restoring spring means acting directly upon saidfriction members for pulling one set lengthwise from the other upon removal of the load from the absorber.

12. A shock absorber comprising two sets of intercalated friction members, two follower means movable lengthwise inwardly and outwardly relatively to one another and each spaced from-the one of said sets of friction members in the released condition of the absorber and to effect the initial part of its inward strokewhile the corresponding set of'friction members isat rest and each follower means being adapted to engage the respective set of friction members and compel the latter to` move longitudinally inwardly 'therewith during the remainder of said inward stroke, 'transverse wedge pressure creating means including shoes engaging one side of the friction members at opposite ends thereof and adapted to be moved longitudinally inward relatively to one another by said follower meanstransverse pressure ref sisting means engaging the other side of said friction' members, restoring spring means acting direct-ly upon said .friction members for moving one set longitudinally outward from the other .upon removal of the load from the absorber, and releasing spring meansinterposed between `said follower means for separating them after compression. A 13. A' shook absorber, comprising two sets of intercalated friction members, two follower means movable lengthwise inwardly and outwardly 1relatively to l one another and each follower spaced from one of said sets of friction members in the released condition `of the absorber and to effect the initial part ofitsinward stroke while the corresponding set of friction members is at rest and each follower means being adapted to engage therespective set of friction members e 'al with the same longitudinally during Q0 mainder of said inward-stroke, `transverse wedge pressure creating means interposed betweeneach follower means and said fric-- tion members and` cooperating with opposite ends of said friction members and having cooperatingv wedge surfaces for .causing the tfriction members of the respective sets to be pressed transversely together with increased pressure upon moving one of said follower i means longitudinally inward relative to the other follower means, transverse pressure rosisting means for supporting said sets of friction members and wsaid transverse pressure creating means relatively to one another, a spring resistance means increasingly stressed during compression of the mechanism, and return means which carry the .reaction of said spring resistance means to said friction members for returning the latter to normal position vand which include spring 1 .i 4o seats each interposed between said spring resistance and one of said transversewedge pressure creating means, and transverse re lease bars each engaging one of saidsprin g seats and one of Tsaid sets offriction members. l

5 `,msnen M. HALL.- 

